So much snow!

These kids can't get enough of the snow!  Snowball fights, snow towers, and lots of sledding!  I'm glad they love the snow but I'm ready for spring (it's going to be a long couple of months I think).

Christmas Cheer

Isn't it great that they make feet-y jammies in big kid sizes?  I found these at Target and my kids think they're awesome!  I don't think they've worn feet-y jammies since they were four years old!

I loved waking up Sunday morning and seeing Jackson cozied up in a blanket, with his feet-y jammies, messed-up bed head playing Mario Kart!  He's practicing A LOT so he can beat his dad (Jared is the KING of Mario Kart).

Watching ELF in feet-y jammies, next to the Christmas tree with a big cozy blanket and hot chocolate... what a PERFECT night!  Chase, however, was just being annoying.  He kept trying to dig us out from under the blanket-- he couldn't understand that we were there on purpose.

Welcome Home Keith!

My good friend Kerrilyn has been without a husband for almost a year (and I thought I had it bad when Jared was gone 4 months...).  Her hubby is in the Navy and has been serving our country in Iraq for several months.  Last night he got to come back home!    Their streets were lined up and down with flags, they had banners, balloons, and decorations all over!  I can only imagine the feeling at the airport last night!

WELCOME HOME KEITH! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for serving our country! 

My Cousin Jason

This is a hard subject to blog about.  My aunt Lynnie did it perfectly on her blog so I just copied her post to my blog.  

Links:  

Lynnie's blog

Jason's Obituary

Precious child, beautiful man, beloved soul. . .

Nothing is so strong as gentleness

and

nothing is so gentle as real strength.

There are no goodbyes, wherever you'll be,

you'll be in my heart.

-Gandhi

In Case You Wanted to Know

I liked Twilight a lot.  I want to see it again but I'm having a hard time convincing Jared to see it.  I love the soundtrack to the movie-- it's my new running music.  I also learned that I'm too old for a midnight movie... it took me 4 days to recover from it!  Anyway... in case you wanted to know.

Happy Birthday Jackson!

How is it even possible that I am the mother of not just one 9-year old... but two 9-year olds? Time flies SO fast! This is Jackson's FAVORITE part of having a birthday... picking out of Grandma's money jar (there are NO pennies in the money jar-- just silver coins). They get one try and there's no scooping allowed... just reach in and pull out as much as you can. Jackson's at a good point right now because his hand is big enough to get quite a haul but not too big that it gets stuck on the way out.

The grown-ups (yes, I AM considered one of the grown-ups) don't get to do the money jar. Except one year my mom had a contest on Thanksgiving with all the grown-ups and the person who pulled out the most money got to keep their haul. Of course I won! I pulled a whopping $26 or something like that! Awesome. (Note to mom: Let's try that again this year.)

Jackson had the BEST idea for a birthday party. He wanted to go bowling and he only wanted to invite one friend and his cousins. It was SUPER fun for the kids and SUPER easy for mom and dad! Jackson even got a bowling pin for all of his party guests to sign! We brought in pizza, Sprite and cupcakes and the kids had so much fun!

Happy Birthday Aspen!

Aspen's birthday party doesn't need a whole of explaining. Just check out the pictures in the slide show. It was A LOT of work but A LOT of fun! It was the High School Musical parties of all parties! Everything (and I mean everything) went right along with the theme. You can't go wrong when you have life-size cardboard cutout Troy along for the ride!

New Kids on the Blog

A mere 18 years ago I was a little girl.  A little girl who was the biggest NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK fan.  I listened to their TAPES non-stop and I couldn't wait to wake up on Saturday morning to see their videos on "Saturday Morning Videos" (no MTV or VH1 for us)!  I had posters, t-shirts, jewelry, buttons, puzzles, board games, videos, stickers, Valentine's, piano books, notebooks, and a NKOTB stage complete with the 5 dolls.  I actually still have most of these items but we won't go there! 

So, 18 years ago my mother made all of my dreams come true when she bought me and my two sisters tickets to their concert.  I was the happiest 11 year old on the planet!

A few years later the band broke up.  I pretended like I didn't care because at this time I was a snotty junior high kid and it wasn't "cool" to like the New Kids.  But... deep down I wanted them back!  

Other bands tried to fill the void-- Boyz II Men, NSync, Backstreet Boys.  But they were no New Kids in my book!

Because of my obsession with pop culture I was reading online one day and spotted a rumor that the New Kids were making a comeback.  Could it really be???  Not only were they making a comeback, they were dropping a new album and GOING ON TOUR!!!  The very second tickets went on sale Jaime and I got online to get our FLOOR SEATS (and we even talked our mom into coming with us).

As you can see from the pictures below... our seats were AMAZING.  I felt like I was 11 all over again.  We had so much fun.  Natasha Bedingfield was the opening act which was a total bonus because I love her music!     

Jordan was always my favorite New Kid.  Still is too!

  

That's a funny shirt someone through to the stage.  Donnie decided to wear it!!

This fuzzy picture is of Jordan leaning down to touch hands.  I was rushing past Jaime and her camera to try to get up there.  I wanted to touch his hand-- didn't happen, but close!  Although, Jordan did wave at me and Jaime.  SERIOUSLY.  We were looking at him and waved and he looked RIGHT AT US and waved back-- no one else was waving at him so we know it was aimed at us!!!  

Guess who else was enjoying the concert FOUR ROWS BEHIND US???  Little David Archuleta- what a cutie!  We tried to go talk to him but security made us sit back down but we did get a couple pics!  We're pretty sure he was the youngest one there (was he even born in 1990??)!  :)

Hip Hip HOORAY

Jared passed his air traffic control final performance evaluation and is on his way home!  Hip Hip Hooray!  He has a one-day break and starts work at the SL airport Thursday morning.

Jackson the Zombie

Aspen the Football Chick

Ready to go trick-or-treating!  I rarely dress up for Halloween but I was helping with the twins' class party this year so I decided to go for it!  I was Snow White and it was kind of fun to wear bright red lipstick for a day!

Happy Halloween!

This was the first year that these two adorable little kiddo's carved their pumpkins 100% by themselves (with safety knives of course)!  Aspen realized the problem when you big the biggest pumpkin is that you have way more JUNK to clean out of your pumpkin!  (NOTE to self:  Using rubber gloves to clean out the pumpkins was a GENIUS idea.  Remember to do it every year.) 

The picture that's missing is the one I DON'T have (seriously-- I always have my camera but not on this occasion).  My dad grew these pumpkins in his garden and over the summer we would stop by once a week and the kids would check the pumpkins.  They were SO excited when it was finally time to pick their pumpkins out of the garden.  And I forgot my camera.

My awesome mother-in-law sent me these darling cupcake holders.  I love them!  Really... how adorable are they?  They go perfectly with a fresh batch of pumpkin cupcakes!

High School Musical 3

It's no secret... High School Musical is a BIG deal in our house.  When the first one came out we had a slumber party with my niece (who was 12 at the time) and we stayed up late watching the movie and pigging out.  Aspen was probably 6 at the time and she quickly developed a MAJOR crush on Zac Efron (I gotta admit... I have a little crush on him too... that boy is a CUTIE).

So when the second movie came out-- same story.  We were way excited and had a party to watch it.  We've now watched HSM 1 & 2 more times than should be allowed and can recite nearly every line, song and dance.  We own HSM Twister, HSM dvd board game, and our latest favorite... HSM Sing It for the Playstation (karaoke at it's best).

So, it's no surprise that when we found out about HSM3 being on the BIG SCREEN, we had to get tickets for opening day.  So... this afternoon me, Jaime, and my mom are headed to the movies with all the kids.  Aspen wore a HSM shirt and took her HSM purse to school.  Jackson is actually really excited too (even if he won't admit it).   

Over the summer we took a field trip to East High.  It was better than Christmas for Aspen!  I'm not sure why I never blogged about it... it definitely was a blog-worthy event!  We let ourselves inside the building (they were not actually filming this day but they were getting one of the sets ready).  We ran into a super-nice crew member and he let Aspen wear is "HSM CREW" badge and he took us on a tour.  It was awesome!  Aspen especially loved seeing the cafeteria and Sharpay's pink locker!

The really nice crew guy let us in on a secret (which is no longer a secret since the movie is now released)... but he told us that Troy & Gabriella had a dance scene on the rooftop garden with just the two of them.  He then took us up to the roof where they were setting up the garden and introduced us to the set designers.  We weren't allowed to take any pictures up on the roof-- it was too top secret!

This bottom picture is the rooftop from in front of the school.  You can see the trees and stuff!  We were secretly hoping for a Zac Efron run-in or some kind of star sighting but after a private tour it didn't even matter.  (We also finished the day eating cupcakes at So Cupcake... and we all know how I feel about cupcakes so it was a GREAT day!) 

Aspen and Jackson are SO excited to see the movie today.  I keep reminding them (over and over) what an awesome mom they have to take time off work just to take them to the movie on opening day and Aspen finally said to me, "Mom, you're just as excited as we are."  She's totally right!

Tagged

I was tagged by Taisley... 7 quirky things that nobody knows about me.  I'm pretty quirky (or weird as some people say).... so here goes.  However, a lot of these things people already "know"... I'm not good at keeping things to myself!

1.  I CANNOT stand the sound of someone clipping their fingernails.  It is a trillion times worse than fingernails on a chalkboard.  I flip out a little at the sound of it... just ask my mom.  :)

2.  I love to wear perfume.  If I leave for work and forget it throws my whole day off (I've started keeping a small bottle at work for those days).  I have about 20 bottles... and different perfumes "match" different outfits.

3.  I hate washing my hair.  I like to let my hair last as long as possible before I wash it (sometimes up to 4 days).  

4.   My original life plan included me being a nurse.  Deep down, I really do still want to be a nurse (if only I could do it without all the schooling... ugh).

5.  I am totally into celebrity gossip... I read People & US Weekly faithfully and I love looking at the pictures.  (Aspen asks to look at them too... and I usually let her).  I'm also obsessed with people.com and usmagazine.com.  I found out when Heath Ledger died about a minute after they broke the news and I immediately called Jaime to let her know.

6.  When I like something... it becomes a bit of an obsession (i.e.  cupcakes, pencils, Sprinkles, hot air balloons, shoes, perfume, rubber stamps, gum, note pads, pens, etc.).

7.  I pretty much despise politics.  Some people call it ignorance... but I just plain don't care.  When family members get into discussions on politics I quietly slip out of the room to go find something else to do.  It annoys me when the presidential debates take over the airwaves.

I tag everyone who reads my blog!  I love reading other people's blogs so consider yourselves tagged.  (Jaime... this means you too.  You're not very good at doing email surveys so let's try a tag.)

My Handyman!

Jared was able to come home and visit this weekend (yeah!) but it ended up being very busy for him. Our kitchen faucet started spraying water out the side so Jared put in a new faucet. In order to fit under the sink to install the new faucet, he had to clean out all the crap that had been shoved under there (trust me... there was a lot of crap under that sink. Like my rolling pin that I thought was lost). He also had to make two trips to Home Depot.

In between snow, rain, and freezing cold he found time to mow & edge the lawn that I had neglected for the past month (or so). The backyard was REALLY bad.

He also made sure all hoses were detached (something I probably should've remembered to do on my own). He also drained and shut off the sprinklers.

He did the dishes. Not just once but two or three times. Unloaded AND loaded! He also cleaned the kitchen, polished the table and chairs, vacuumed the carpets, stairs, AND couches. Oh... and checked the beeping smoke detector in Aspen's room.

And in the mornings, he made waffles (note the Shrek reference)! Aspen has an obsession with frozen blueberry waffles... but only if made by Jared. Apparently I'm not capable of making them they way he does.

He played, wrestled, played, and wrestled some more with Chase. Poor puppy is feeling loved all over again. He also held Chase down and trimmed his claws which is NOT a fun task!

Jackson has refused to let me take him to Fantastic Sams for a haircut because he wanted his daddy to do it. So the night before Jared had to go back to Oklahoma, he gave Jacks a haircut (he needed a haircut WORSE than the lawn needed to be mowed).

After all the work, he had the kids read their school take-home books to him. I love hearing the kids read but sometimes a little break is nice. :) Also, on Monday morning (while I was sleeping in since I took the day off work), Jared got up at 6:30, got the kids ready for school (dressed, breakfast, on time, etc.), and dropped them off at school (this might not seem like that big of a deal but their school is 20 minutes away so it is kind of a pain). He also followed my rules and picked my nephew up on the way to school. AND... his plane didn't leave until early evening so he was able to pick them up after school!

I also dragged him to dinner with my friends on Saturday and to my moms for Sunday lunch with my family. He did not even complain (although watching the Cowboys in high-def on my moms flat screen was probably his highlight... until they lost).

Jared also had to go to the Driver's License Division to get a new driver's license (thank goodness they stayed open on Columbus Day). We did manage to sneak in a trip to Ikea and breakfast at Ihop (Aspen's choice).

What was I doing while he was working his butt off? I napped. A LOT. I took a few bubble baths. I read a few magazines. I slept in. I scrapbooked a little. I made a yummy cake. And I followed him around like a little puppy dog just to spend more time with him. I even convinced him to take a nap with me... and he HATES naps!

I am lucky. I am spoiled. I am blessed. I am grateful. I must always remember NEVER to take him for granted. Absense makes the heart grow fonder! Come home soon.

Jackson's Halloween Story

So, on Friday's I go to my kids school to help with the Take Home Library.  As I was walking down the hall to exchange books today I noticed some Halloween stories on the wall with a "scary" picture of the student who wrote the story.  I noticed they were from my kids' class so I took a minute to find their stories and read them.  I'll have to post the stories once I get them home because they were really cute.  

Jackson's story had a disclaimer at the bottom:  "Caution!  8 years and up."  I cracked up.

Jackson's story was also about a vampire.

Not just any vampire.

A vampire named EDWARD!!!!

Chase without Jared = SAD PUPPY!

Chase misses Jared (just like the rest of us).  When Jared is home visiting, Chase won't leave him alone, follows him all around the house, and climbs all over him whatever chance he gets (once again... just like the rest of us).

This is Chase without Jared.  Poor, sad, pouty, lonely puppy!

Jackson does a GREAT job helping keep Chase company (and vice versa)!

Empty 2-liter bottles, a backyard to run in, and playing fetch makes Chase a not-so-sad puppy!

Sprinkles... PUMPKIN Sprinkles!

My love for cupcakes is no secret.  I love love love all things cupcake (like my handmade apron from my awesome sis, or my trendy little cupcake decorative plates from my mother-in-law, and my cupcake display tower from my dear friends, oh and my cupcake coin purse... and my cupcake to-do list pad... the list goes on {and on}.  

However, my love for SPRINKLES cupcakes has crossed the line over to OBSESSION.  If we are ever in Texas visiting Jared's parents, the 35 minute drive to Sprinkles is MANDATORY.  Why oh why can't there be a Sprinkles cupcake store in Utah???  But since there's not one in Utah the next best thing to a Sprinkles store is Sprinkles cupcake mix... available and Williams & Sonoma... which IS in Utah.  

The pumpkin mix is only available during the fall... this was my first time tasting them.  They are SO amazing... and the frosting... not just any frosting... cinnamon cream cheese frosting.  It was actually my BEST frosting batch to date... no doctoring was needed to thin it out or thicken it up!  Mmmmmm....